Toothbrush



A. MENDOZA.

TOOTHBRUSH.

APPLICATION F lLED NOV. 26, 1920.

Patented Oct. 17, 1922.

2 SHEETS SHEET 1.

Fatented Get. 17, 1922,,

PATIENT @FFHCCE.

ARNULFO MENDOZA, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

'roo'rnnnusnt.

Application filed November To all whom it may comm:

Be it known that I, AnNULro MENoozA, a citizen of Mexico, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Toothbrushes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tooth brushes of the fountain type and the primary objects of the present invention are to provide, in a fountain tooth brush, a novel means of removably associating an'ordlnary tube of tooth paste with the handle of the brush; a novel means for feeding the paste to the bristles or brush portions; a novel means for detachably and slidably securing the brush portion with the other parts of the brush, so that a new brush portion can be substituted for a worn or unsanitary brush portion when desired, and a novel means for controlling the flow of the paste from the tube to the brush portion by said brush portion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel type of fountain tooth brush which consists merely of three sections which are all detachably connected together so as to permit a thorough cleaning of the brush when necessary or desirable.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved fountain tooth brush of the above character, which is durable and efficient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the ac- .companying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved fountain tooth brush, the cover therefor being shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the improved fountain brush, the cover portion of the handle being shown removed to illustrate the means of inserting a tube of tooth paste in the handle;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through theimproved brush taken at right angles to Figure 2.

26, 1920. Serial No. 426,540.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail transverse cross section through the handle portion of the brush.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the main portion of the brush.

Figure 6 is a detail plan View of the brush carrier.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the improved fountain brush, illustrating the brush carrier moved to a position for permitting the flow of the tooth paste from the tube to the brush bristles.

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse section through the brush or bristle carrier and the brush head, and I Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse cross section through the handle portion of the fountain brush taken on the line 9-9 of Fi re 3.

eferring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several .views, the letter A indicates the body portion of the brush, B, a tube of tooth paste, and C, the brush carrier, and D, the removable cover for the brush carrier and head.

comprises a longitudinally extending shank 10 having a brush head 11 formed on one end thereof, and a handle portion 12 formed on the opposite end thereof. The handle portion 12 is formed in a pair of companion sections 13 and 14, and each of these sections are substantially semi-oval in crom section so as to conform to the cross sectional configuration of a tube of tooth paste These sections 13 and 14 are hollowed out for the reception of the tube of tooth paste as clearly shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings. It can be seen that the main portion A is formed in a single piece, with the exception of the section 13 which forms the cover for the handle 12 and this body portion may be formed of any preferred material, either rubber, metal, rench ivory or the like. At the point of juncture with the shank 10 of the handle 12, a substantially solid oval shaped base 15 is formed, and this base forms an abutment or shoulder 16 for the inner end of the removable section 13. This portion 15 is formed with an axial socket 17 which communicates with a longitudinally extending bore 18 formed in the shank 10. This bore extends to the transverse center of the head 11 and communicates with a right angularly extending port 19 for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully described. The section 14 which is formed integral with the f connecting the sections 13 and 14; may be varied if so desired.

The tube of tooth paste B is of the ordinary or any preferred construction and consists of the collapsible body 22 and the threaded nozzle 23. Tn tpplying the tube of tooth paste in position the section 13 is removed, and the tube is placed at an angle to the handleas shown in the dotted line position in Figure 3 of the drawings. The nozzle 23 is then inserted into the socket 17 and the tube is then moved into the section 14: which forms a stop and an abutment therefor. When the tube is moved into position as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the threads on the nozzle 23 will engage the threads formed on the socket 19 and thus accidental rearward movement of the tube is prevented. The forward end of the section 13 carries the companion half socket 24: of the half socket 19 and this half socket 24 is also provided with threads for engaging the threaded nozzle 23. This absolutely precludes movement of the tube when sections are in their normal positions.

The lower surface of the head 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending way 25 and with depending longitudinally extendin guides 26. These guides 26 are forme on the longitudinal edges of the head 11 as clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. This slide way and the guides 26 are adapted to receive the brush carrier 0'. The brush carrier C comprises a fiat plate 28 which may be formed of any preferred material and the plurality of bristle tufts 29. These bristle tufts may be secured to the late 28 in any referred manner. The p ate 28 is provide with an aperture 30 which is adapted to be brought into alignment with the port 19 for permitting the flow of tooth paste from the tube B to the tufts or bristles 29. It can be seen, howeverfthat when the brush carrier C is moved to the extreme rearward position, the aperture 30 is out of alignment with the port 19 and the escape of the tooth paste through the tube carrier is prevented. In order to hold the brush carrier against accidental movement, on the head 11, a plurality of transversely extending ribs 31 are formed on the upper surface of the plate 28 and these ribs are adapted to engage in suitable transversely extending grooves 32 formed in the lower surface of the head 11. The ribs are adapted to be snapped into and out of the grooves 32 by pressure, and it can be seen that in one position the ribs 31 seated in the grooves 32 will hold the carrier in such a position as to permit the flow of the paste to the bristles and will hold the carrier C in another position for preventing the escape of the paste to the bristle.

The cover D for the brush carrier and head 11 comprises a cylindrical shell 35 having a circular concavo-convea end wall 36. This cover is adapted to he slipped on and over the brush carrier and head and is adapted to frictionally engage the handle 12.

When the cover D is in position, the same also further holds thesections 13 and 14 against accidental displacement.

The improved brush is made of a con venient size so as to permit the same to be readily carried around in the pocket, during travelling and as it is highly desirable from a hygienic standpoint that the teeth be cleaned regularly after each meal, the

brush is also particularly adaptable for persons who have to eat their meals awa from home.

In use of the improved sanitary tooth brush, the tube B is placed within the handle 12 as herebeforestated, and when it is desired to force the tooth paste to the brush bristles 29, the \section 13 of the handle is removed and pressure is applied to the rear exposed portion of the tube B. The section it forms a rigid abutment for the tube during this pressing operation. The carrier C is then moved outward a slight distance so as to align the opening 30 with the port 19 which will permit the paste to flow to the bristles. quantity of the paste has been fed to the bristles, the carrier G is then pushed baclr to its normal position "and the section 13 placed in engagement with the section l-t. The device is then ready for use.

Thus it can be seen that the brush carrier C forms a valve for controlling the flow of the paste to the bristle and as the same is freely removable from the head 11, a new carrier can be associated with the head 11 at any time desired.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. In a fountain tooth brush, the combination with a body portion including a flat head having a longitudinally extending bore, and a right angularly extendin outlet port communicating therewith, an depending After a suflicient guides formed on the longitudinal edges of the head, of a brushcarrier detachably associated With the fiat head, including a fiat plate slidably mounted inflsaid guides, the plate having an outlet port formed therein adapted to be moved in alignmentwith the outlet port in said flat head, and brush tufts carried by one face of said flat plate.

2. In a fountain tooth brush, the combination with a body portion, a pair of longitudinally spaced guides formed on one surface of the body portion, a reservoir associated with the body portion, the body portion having a longitudinally extending port formed therein for permitting the flow of tooth paste from the reservoir through the body portion, a carrier slidably mounted in said guide, bristles carried by said carrier, the carrier having a port formed therein adapted to be moved into and out of alignment With the bore formed in the body portion, the body portion having recesses formed therein, and ribs formed on the carrier adapted tobe moved into and out of engagement With the recesses.

ARNULFO MENDOZA. 

